Anemone plant named ‘IFANFB’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Anemone  plant named ‘IFANFB’, characterized by its upright and relatively compact plant habit; moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large semi-double flowers that are red purple in color; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Anemone hupehensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘IFANFB’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Anemone,botanically known as Anemone hupehensis and hereinafter referred to bythe name ‘IFANFB’.

The new Anemone plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands. Theobjective of the breeding program is to create new compact and vigorousAnemone plants with numerous attractive flowers.

The new Anemone plant originated from a cross-pollination made by theInventor in October, 2012 in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands of aproprietary selection of Anemone hupehensis identified as code number148-10-K001-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with aproprietary selection of Anemone hupehensis identified as code number148-10-K006-01, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The newAnemone plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a singleflowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in acontrolled greenhouse environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands inOctober, 2013.

Asexual reproduction of the new Anemone by in vitro meristem culture ina controlled environment in Heerhugowaard, The Netherlands since thespring of 2014 has shown that the unique features of this new Anemoneplant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Anemone have not been observed under all possiblecombinations of environmental conditions and various cultural practices.The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmentalconditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, anyvariance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘IFANFB’. These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘IFANFB’ as a new and distinct Anemone plant:

-   -   1. Upright and relatively compact plant habit.    -   2. Moderately vigorous to vigorous growth habit.    -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.    -   4. Long flowering period.    -   5. Large semi-double flowers that are red purple in color.    -   6. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Anemone can be compared to plants of the female parentselection. Plants of the new Anemone differ primarily from plants of thefemale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Anemone are more freely flowering than        plants of the female parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Anemone are darker red purple in        color than flowers of plants of the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Anemone can be compared to plants of the male parentselection. Plants of the new Anemone differ primarily from plants of themale parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Anemone have more sepals than        flowers of plants of the male parent selection.    -   2. Flowers of plants of the new Anemone are darker red purple in        color than flowers of plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Anemone can be compared to plants of Anemonehupehensis ‘Pocahontas’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,352. Inside-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Anemone and ‘Pocahontas’differ primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Flowers of plants of the new Anemone are larger than flowers        of plants of ‘Pocahontas’.    -   2. Plants of the new Anemone have red purple-colored flowers        whereas plants of ‘Pocahontas’ have light purple-colored        flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceof the new Anemone plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonablypossible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in thephotographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in thedetailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors ofthe new Anemone plant.

The photograph on the first sheet is a side perspective view of atypical plant of ‘IFANFB’ in a container.

The photograph at the top of the second sheet comprises a close-up viewof typical leaves of ‘IFANFB’.

The photograph at the bottom of the second sheet comprises a close-upview of typical flowers and flower buds of ‘IFANFB’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurementsand values describe plants grown during the late summer and early autumnin 17-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Heerhugowaard, TheNetherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial Anemoneproduction. During the production of the plants, day temperatures rangedfrom 15° C. to 25° C. and night temperatures ranged from 8° C. to 20° C.Plants were 21 weeks old when the photographs and description weretaken. In the following description, color references are made to TheRoyal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except wheregeneral terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Anemone hupehensis ‘IFANFB’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of Anemone            hupehensis identified as code number 148-10-K001-01, not            patented.        -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of Anemone            hupehensis identified as code number 148-10-K006-01, not            patented.-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—In vitro meristem culture.        -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at            temperatures about 22° C.        -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 15 days at            temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 42 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 50 days            at temperatures about 20° C.        -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; close to N199C to N199D in            color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate            composition, water quality, fertilizer type and formulation,            substrate temperature and physiological age of roots.        -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense.-   Plant description:    -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial; upright and            relatively compact plant habit with leaves developing from            basal rosettes; numerous basal rosettes developing per            plant; oblong in overall shape; moderately vigorous to            vigorous growth habit; moderate growth rate.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 21.4            cm.        -   Plant height, soil level to top of floral plane.—About 46.4            cm.        -   Plant diameter.—About 38.1 cm.-   Leaf description:    -   -   Arrangement, basal leaves.—Alternate; simple.        -   Arrangement, cauline leaves.—Opposite; simple.        -   Length, basal leaves.—About 7.8 cm.        -   Width, basal leaves.—About 7 cm.        -   Length, cauline leaves.—About 6.8 cm.        -   Width, cauline leaves.—About 5 cm.        -   Shape, basal leaves.—Broadly ovate; three-lobed to            trifoliate.        -   Shape, cauline leaves.—Ovate to narrowly ovate; three-lobed            to trifoliate.        -   Apex, basal and cauline leaves.—Acute.        -   Base, basal leaves.—Hastate.        -   Base, cauline leaves.—Attenuate.        -   Margin, basal and cauline leaves.—Dentate to serrulate            tri-lobed, depth of sinuses are medium to very deep and            divergent.        -   Aspect, basal leaves.—About 25° from vertical.        -   Aspect, cauline leaves.—About 45° from vertical.        -   Texture and luster, basal and cauline leaves, upper            surface.—Sparsely to moderately pubescent; slightly glossy.        -   Texture and luster, basal and cauline leaves, lower            surface.—Very sparsely pubescent; matte.        -   Venation pattern, basal and cauline leaves.—Laciniate.        -   Color, basal and cauline leaves.—Developing leaves, upper            surface: Close to 143A. Developing leaves, lower surface:            Close to 138B. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close            to between 147A and N189A; venation, close to 146B to 146C.            Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close to 147B;            venation, close to 144A.        -   Leaf petioles.—Length, basal leaves: About 11.1 cm.            Diameter, basal leaves: About 1.75 mm. Length, cauline            leaves: About 2.7 cm. Diameter, cauline leaves: About            2.5 mm. Strength, basal and cauline leaves: Strong. Texture            and luster, basal and cauline leaves, upper and lower            surfaces: Moderately pubescent; glossy. Color, basal and            cauline leaves, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.        -   Stipules.—Quantity and arrangement: Two, opposite at the            base of each leaf. Length: About 1.9 cm. Diameter: About            3 mm. Shape: Narrowly oblong Texture, upper surface: Smooth,            glabrous. Texture, lower surface: Sparsely pubescent. Color,            upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144A.-   Flower description:    -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Semi-double rotate            flowers arranged in simple and compound cymes; freely            flowering habit with 550 flowers developing per plant during            the flowering season; flowers face mostly upright to            slightly outwardly.        -   Fragrance.—None detected.        -   Natural flowering season.—Plants of the new Anemone flower            during the summer into the late summer in The Netherlands.        -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about seven to ten            days on the plant; flowers not persistent.        -   Inflorescence height.—About 28.8 cm.        -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 13.7 cm.        -   Flower diameter.—About 6.1 cm.        -   Flower length (depth).—About 2.6 cm.        -   Flower buds.—Length: About 9 mm. Diameter: About 9 mm.            Shape: Globular. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;            matte. Color: Close to N186C; proximally, close to 143C.        -   Petals.—Absent.        -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About 28 arranged in about            three whorls. Length: About 2.9 cm to 3.3 cm. Width: About 1            cm to 1.5 cm. Shape: Obovate to oblanceolate. Apex: Obtuse            to broadly acute. Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and            luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte.            Texture and luster, lower surface: Densely pubescent;            slightly glossy. Color: When opening, upper surface: Close            to 70B; center, close to 69D. When opening, lower surface:            Close to 70B to 70C. Fully opened, upper surface: Close to            70B; fading towards the base, close to 75B and N75D;            venation, similar to lamina colors; colors do not change            with development. Fully opened, lower surface: Close to            between 70B and 70C; venation, similar to lamina color;            color does not change with development.        -   Peduncles.—Length: About 28 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm.            Aspect: About 10° from vertical. Strength: Strong. Texture            and luster: Densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:            Close to 144A.        -   Pedicels.—Length: About 9.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.            Aspect: About 27.5° from the peduncle axis. Strength:            Moderately strong. Texture and luster: Densely pubescent;            slightly glossy. Color: Close to 138B.        -   Flower bracts.—Quantity per flower: Two. Length: About            1.7 cm. Width: About 1.2 cm. Shape: Obovate. Apex: Acute.            Base: Cuneate. Margin: Entire; distally, serrate. Texture,            upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper            surface: Close to 143A to 143B. Color, lower surface: Close            to 143A to 143B; margins, close to between N186C and 200A.        -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number per flower:            About 160. Filament length: About 4.5 mm. Filament color:            Close to between 150D and 155A. Anther shape: Oblong. Anther            length: About 1.5 mm. Anther diameter: About 0.5 mm. Anther            color: Close to 15A. Amount of pollen: Moderate. Pollen            color: Close to 11D. Gynoecium: Pistil number per flower:            About 240. Pistil length: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:            Club-shaped. Stigma length: About 0.5 mm. Stigma diameter:            About 0.5 mm. Stigma color: Close to N144A. Style length:            About 0.5 mm. Style color: Close to 150D. Ovary color: Close            to 144A.        -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit development have            not been observed on plants of the new Anemone.-   Garden performance: Plants of the new Anemone have been observed to    have good garden performance, to tolerate high temperatures of about    35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 4 through 9.-   Pathogen & pest resistance: To date, plants of the new Anemone have    not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to    Anemone plants.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Anemone plant named ‘IFANFB’ asillustrated and described.